General “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell
During World War II, General “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell, commander of Tenth Army,(1) relied on the L-4 Cub extensively. He flew with the Air OPs, many times with the windows open. “On one occasion he was being flown by SSgt Lyle W. White on a mission off Okinawa. A gust of wind blew through the Cub’s cockpit and the general’s battered campaign hat, that he had worn for over 20 years blew out the window. “General Stilwell sadly watched his hat float down and plop into the sea. He remarked, ‘I’d sure like to go down there and rescue my old...
Learn MoreRotary Wing First for the Navy and Marines
September 1931, the Pitcairn XOP-1 autogiro was procured by the Navy for trial purposes. As a rotary wing aircraft, the Navy was interested in the aircraft’s ability to land and takeoff within in short space. So the Navy conducted tests aboard the aircraft carrier Langley (CV-1). Lieutenant A.M. Pride taking off from USS Langley in a Pitcairn XOP-1 autogiro, September 23, 1931. Photo number, NSO20117. Courtesy: Navsource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive.84 Years Ago September 1931, the Pitcairn XOP-1 autogiro was procured by the Navy for trial purposes. As a rotary wing aircraft, the Navy was interested in the aircraft’s...
Learn More“Gaining Information of the Enemy’s Movements.”
152 Years Ago, 1862 Warfare theorist Baron Antoine Henri de Jomini, with Article XLII, of his, The Art of War, outlined various methods of obtaining information and reconnaissance by which a commander could gather intelligence on an opposing army: Questioning prisoners or deserters; well-organized system of spies; and mobile formations of cavalry. With the latter he specifically mentions the famed Cossacks by name. But Baron de Jomini seemed to have little regard for the use of balloons as a vehicle for observation with the following: “An attempt of another kind was made in 1794, at the battle of Fleurus, where General Jourdan made use...
Learn MoreAmphibious
Amphibious An OH-23D of the 7th Infantry Division is shown touching down on the deck of a Republic of Korea LST. The LST, anchored near Pusan, took part in an amphibious exercise named “Bayonet Beach.” Six helicopters from the 7th Division effected landings on the LST. News Brief The expansion of Army Aviation has fostered the heaviest workload in training ever recorded at the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School (USAPHS) at Fort Wolters, as reported by Fourth Army Command. Since August 1963, the average number of trainees has been 409 candidates. According to COL Henry H. McKee, Aviation Officer, Fourth...
Learn MoreThe Arithmetic Bug
The Arithmetic Bug U.S. Air Service Balloon Troops spotting for the Field Artillery were plagued by all manner of vermin and pest. Among them were rats (blacks and browns), fleas, flies, frogs, nits, mites, maggots and the Arithmetic Bug. The latter was the ubiquitous cootie. And the infestation was universal; in other words, both sides of No-Man’s Land. This hardy pest proved resistant to the most stringent efforts to eradicate it. Indeed, Doughboys consigned themselves to reality and came to accept their little brothers in the trenches. The popular refrain was: “The Arithmetic Bug added to or misery, subtracted from...
Learn MoreArmed Escorts
“Armed Escorts,” BG John J. Tolson “One of the most interesting examples of conceptual advancement shown in Southeast Asia involves the use of armed escort helicopters. After employing these machines as escorts for troop carrying helicopters . . . we found that the number of hits sustained by the troop carrying choppers dropped considerably . . . in the face of a simultaneous increase in the total number of combat sorties flown. In other words, we have found that helicopter vulnerability may not be the ogre that it is sometimes made out to be.” Source: Page 10, Army Aviation, March-April...
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